High-tech rides: Cars with cool technology

Knight Rider has nothing on what’s brewing in the labs of leading automotive researchers.

Today's technologies range from mobile Internet access to collision-detection systems to automated braking and steering capabilities. Some car manufacturers are even designing their cars to offer a personal touch by pulling up drivers' preferences based on fingerprint and other biometric technologies.

Here we detail some of the leading-edge technology embedded in today's cars and what new vehicles are on tap from automotive giants in the near future. (For pictures of these cool auto technologies, view a slideshow version of this story) 

Volvo's version of safe driving

Volvo earlier this year in its XC60 model introduced a feature dubbed City Safety, which promises to reduce the number of low-speed collisions that occur in heavy traffic. The vehicles are equipped with laser sensor technology that works when the car is traveling less than 19 mph. The sensors detect vehicles moving slowly or at a standstill up to 10 meters in front of the car. If as the distance between the cars lessens and the vehicle operator does not react, the car applies the brakes automatically. Volvo says it can not only automate the braking system, but also control steering to direct cars away from a potential crash.

Beemers with brains

BMW will add access to Google Maps’ search capability in its 2009 BMW Assist and Navigation system-equipped 1 and 3 series vehicles. Subscribers to BMW's Assist Convenience Plan will be able to access "BMW Search" to locate businesses using a simple keyword, for example. Once the desired location is found, the system will initiate route guidance or a hands-free call with a push of a button, BMW says. The technology comes to BMW vehicles via the AT&T Mobility GSM network, which identifies the current location and destination of the vehicle automatically and then displays the local results with details of address, phone number and distance.

UC Berkeley's Robo-Bus

The California Partners for Advanced Transit and Highways program at the University of California Berkeley developed a 60-foot research bus that uses special sensors and processors embedded in the vehicle to detect magnets in the pavement. While a human driver maintains control of braking and acceleration, the bus automates steering using data it receives from the magnets. A test performed in September (with the help of $320,000 in funding from the California Department of Transportation) demonstrated the bus can make stops with a lateral accuracy of 1 centimeter. Researchers say such precision will reduce docking time at each stop, making an entire route more efficient.

Human-less haul trucks

Carnegie Mellon University partnered with Caterpillar to co-develop intelligent, self-driving off-highway haul trucks. Carnegie Mellon's National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC) will work closely with Caterpillar's Pittsburgh Automation Center, which opened in September 2007, to add perception, planning and intelligent decision-making capabilities to Caterpillar's two biggest haul trucks -- which can handle loads of 240 tons or more. The efforts will be part of a large-scale mining automation system Caterpillar is building with BHP Billion. Project advocates say automating these operations will improve safety, efficiency and consistency in mining processes. Intelligent haul trucks are scheduled to be at work in BHP Billion mines by 2010.